Author: admin

A Hole in the Wall

Kitchen Before Tiling

Yesterday, this was a wall.

Today, we are proud owners of a hole between our kitchen and lounge.

Renovations have started to pace up now. Yesterday, the bathroom was rendered. Today, the underfloor heating for the kitchen was installed by Avril and Matt. Tomorrow, kitchen tiling is completed and the new kitchen delivered. Friday is kitchen installation d-day.

Private Angus Hodge

david-melville-hodge-signature

In the recent research of my paternal family history, I found reference to David Melville Hodge signing the papers for an Angus Hodge. These papers were permission given by David for Angus to join the Australian Infantry in 1916 for service abroad. He was only 18 years and 2 months old.

Private Angus Hodge was my Great-Grand Uncle.

Based on my recent research into a Private Albert Lock, I knew I could find Private Angus Hodge’s service records at the National Archives. A few personal notes where an injured right leg from a horsing accident in 1912, and many teeth missing. He was also noted as “stocky” at only 5 and a half feet tall. His denomination was listed as Methodist.

Private Angus Hodge became a part of the 6th reinforcements for the South Australian 43rd Battalion, AIF. The 43rd Battalion made up the 11th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division of the AIF. Landed in the UK during the early part of 1917. (note: This Order of Battle is extremely useful and the War Diaries of the 43rd Battalion are insightful)

At this stage, Private Hodge started to have a bout of Measles and Mumps and finally arrived in France 30th July 1917. He joined the front line on 24th August 1917. Just in time for the 3rd Battle of Ypres. (also known to Australians as Passchendaele)

From this time, there were many times in hosipital listed as “NYD” and “PUO” : not yet determined and pyrexia unknown origin (ie: fever)

Then there is a note from 18th August 1918 “admitted old wounded leg, slight” back in the UK ; fracture from tibia, based on the fall from a horse some 6 years earlier. Repatriated back to the UK, Private Hodge spent time getting better at the end of the first world war.

On the 23rd November 1918, exactly 90 years ago today, the Medical Board in the UK awarded Private Angus Hodge a 20% permanent disability due to service; fit for home service.  He would have limped for the rest of his life.

Discharged from the AIF on 19th March 1919 in Adelaide. Merely a year after returning to Australia, Angus was dead.

Nearly 3 years away from home, Private Hodge served his country. The records fail to detail the mental and other injuries suffered whilst in France.

Angus Hodge died ages 22 and is buried 23rd March 1920. The gravestone states “Son of DM and FJ.” Last residence is recorded as Gulnare South Australia. Where David Melville Hodge was farming at the time.

Lest We Forget.

Kitchen Destruction

Results of 20th November 2008 destruction of the old kitchen below (Photosynth, this time 100% synthy!)

Avril enjoyed the de-tiling process. Sometimes, destroying inanimate objects is cathartic.

“It’s Not a Sad Time”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grief

nana Birthday in 2006

“It’s Not a Sad Time” was one of my Nana’s last wise phrases whispered to my Mum. Said more for those around her than herself, it is a canny reflection that behind the synthetic opiods her mind was active.

It is a phrase that I am pondering; as the funeral was a celebration of her achievements. I only realised how she treated everyone as special. From Dr Agarwal her final Doctor; Dean Martin one of her Aboriginal students from the mid 1970’s; to the staff at the Lutheran Homes in Glynde.

It takes a character larger than life to constantly impact the lives of so many other for 95 years.

I hold a deep and lasting respect for those in my family that dealt unselfishly with this stressful part of life. Palliative care, and the very tough decisions that are made go to the heart of why we are alive: to keep living.

In the end, remember: that who we love, and who loves us is all that matters.

Field Marshal Melchett

The 2007 Build of General Melchett, with post-build modifications live here. A promotion from General is Field Marshal. Think Montgomery and a whole bunch of others. Prior to the physical release of the new "Nehalem" Intel Corei7 processors, my previous blog was a little theoretical. Planning the mid-2009 (estimated) build of the successor starts with watching the pricing of the three key components: Processor, Motherboard and Memory:

19 Nov 2008 25 Nov 2008 10 Dec 2008 7 Jan 2009 9 Mar 2009 3 Jul 2009 18th Jan 2011

Stage 1
GA-EX58-Extreme LGA1366 549.00
Gigabyte GA-EX58-DS4 401.30 367.80 339.30
GA-EX58-UD3R 363.20 328.20
Gigabyte GA-EX58-EXTREME 473.90
Gigabyte GA-P67-UD5 SATA3/USB3/DDR3 321.90
Core i7 920 2.66Ghz 660.00 569.95 511.17 489.02 501.20 462.70
Core i7 950 3.06Ghz 837.90
Intel Core i7 2600 3.4Ghz 32nm "Sandy Bridge" 369.30
OCZ 6GB DDR3 PC3-12800 Gold Low-Voltage Triple Channel, 3x 2GB (OCZ3G1600LV6GK) 572.00 566.60 566.60 542.90 361.40 210.10
Corsair 12GB Memory 6x XMS3 2GB Kit, PC3-12800 (HX3X12G1600C9) 366.30
G.Skill 16Gb DDR3 memory, 1600Mhz 301.90
TOTAL 1781.00 1537.85 1445.57 1371.22 1225.80 1001.00 1678.10 993.10
-6.0% -5.0% -10.0% -18.3%

 

January 2011: Updated with the Stage 1 (of two stages) purchase for GENERALMELCHETT upgrade. $993.10 in 2011 vs. $1781 in late 2008. Wow.

I will update the table to track the drift in pricing. These pricings are from AUSPCMarket. I may also be going to the US in July/August 2009, so that also adds another variable. The above prices at AU$ including GST.

  • Update 25th November 2008: Changed down the motherboard a model; pricing from Mwave.com.au
  • Update 10th December 2008: Waiting for the price of DDR3 memory to drop
  • Update 9th March 2009: dramatic downshift of memory pricing makes 12Gb look affordable! The DS4 motherboard is discontinued, with the new UD3R chosen as a replacement in the same price range. I may change this over time. The Intel price has slightly risen, probably due to the exchange rate fluctuations more than market conditions.

Notes:

  • Depending on pricing, I may go faster than 2.66GHz in the Core i7.
  • I am really happy with the General’s current Gigabyte motherboard: excellent driver support for Vista x64 and rock solid stable.
  • Whilst 6Gb is less than the 8Gb now in the General, it is easy to track a 6Gb pack at 1600MHz and see where the pricing tracks over the next 9 months. I may install 12Gb in the Field Marshal. Because I can.

Any other suggestions of online suppliers, or real-world experience with memory – would be great.

Edna Dutschke

Edna Dutschke

Edna Dutschke (nee Elix) passed away peacefully in her sleep, and under medical care during the early hours of 14th November 2008. She was 95, and had seen much in her life. Including giving life to two sons and a daughter. Her daughter is my Mum. Edna was by Nana.

Her grandparents immigrated from what is now Germany and religious intolerance to South Australia’s Barossa Valley.

A jolly person with a cheeky sense of humour. A hard worked who never suffered fools gladly. Along with her late husband, Arnold (passed on December 1984) she taught at many Lutheran Primary Schools in South Australia.

She had a sweet tooth (a trait passed on to her grandson, but don’t tell my Mum), a love of gardening, Inspector Rex, the Port Power, her family and keeping empties under her bed (last one is a family joke)

In her final years she was quietly frustrated by her body failing her active mind. Walkers and wheelchairs aided her mobility and did little to slow her down. A keen eye was watching everyone when the hearing aid’s battery failed.

My memories of her are all pleasant. As her first grandson, I am sure I had a special place in her heart. She put up with me and passed on some lessons in life. I lived with Nana from 1985 through to 1988 at a time I completed my Matriculation (HSC) through to finding Avril. Nana was the first in my family to meet Avril and provide approval.

Her physical presence will be missed. Memories, stories and thoughts remain.

Many memories.